2019: 45 opposition parties adopt Atiku as consensus candidate

45 Opposition parties have adopted the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as their consensus candidate for the 2019 presidential election.

The oppositions, with an umbrella name as CUPP, which comprises more than 45 major opposition parties, disclosed this in a statement issued by its National Spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ugochinyere said that the decision was arrived at few hours after a closed door deliberation by members of the CUPP at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

“Over 41 political parties in attendance endorsed the decision which enjoyed majority support.

“The coalition arrived at the choice of Abubakar after he towered high on the criteria used by the opposition in arriving at the decision.

“These include: national acceptability; financial capacity; spread of his political party; leadership capacity; international acceptability; experience ; capacity to rebuild the economy; secure the country and unite all Nigerians.’’

Ugochinyere added that the coalition would have a formal meeting with Abubakar before Friday for final commencement of the coalition campaign.

CUPP was formed in July by the leadership of 39 opposition parties with the aim of producing a presidential candidate that would defeat the ruling party in the 2019 General Election and later form a government of national unity.

The members of the Coalition include: the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Africa Democratic Party (ADC), Action Democratic Party (ADP) and All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP).